Oregon: Gardening in the Rogue Valley - Options CommunityGarden

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1:41 pm PT, Monday, Feb 14, 2005 
Gardening in the Rogue Valley - Options Community Garden 

By Joan Jones  
Staff Writer / SouthernOregonNews.com  

Rogue Valley, Oregon - Options of Southern Oregon is creating a community 
garden in Grants Pass. The garden will provide 32 plots, available to individuals 
and nonprofit organizations at a nominal annual fee of $25. This fee would 
cover ongoing expenses such as water and routine maintenance, making the project 
virtually self-supporting after the initial work is completed. Ten percent of 
plots would be held as "scholarship" plots. These plots would be available at 
no charge to individuals who agreed to donate a percentage of their produce 
to agencies who work with hunger. 

An initial work party was held recently to begin on the project.

"It was fabulous," said Crystal McMalton of Options. "The turn-out was great. 
About 40 people from the Master Gardeners Association and community members 
came out to help.

Options received a grant from the Four Way Community Foundation to provide 
the initial funding to build a community garden for the Grants Pass area. 

The Options Community Garden was proposed for Options property by several of 
the staff who recognized that with a minimal investment, the land that their 
building occupies could be better utilized for the community. 

One purpose of the garden is to educate the community and connect people with 
their heritage so they learn where food comes from, McMalton said. The garden 
will also be used to educate youth groups.

People who garden one of the plots at the community garden can either keep 
the bounty or donate it to a worthy cause.

The concept for a community garden has received support from community 
partners as varied as the Master Gardeners, Josephine County Juvenile Center, 
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program and the Grower's Market. In addition, Chandler 
Pipeline Construction donated the installation of an irrigation system.

Another work party will be held March 11. Community members are invited to 
stop by and check out the gardens.

For those who would like to apply for a plot to garden, applications will be 
available February 15 by going on-line to 
http://www.optionsonline.org/CommunityGarden.htm or calling 476-2373.

Options for Southern Oregon, Inc., is a non-profit organization established 
in 1982 to provide psychosocial rehabilitation services for adults with 
long-term mental illness. 

Upcoming gardening events:

Plant clinics are held by the Jackson County master Gardener Association from 
10 am to 2 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Oregon State University Extension 
Center, 569 Hanley road, Central Point. Services include gardening assistance 
and pest identification. Call 776-7371 ext. 204 or visit 
www.extension.orst.edu/sorec/mg

The Jackson county Master gardeners will also present a fruit tree pruning 
class from 9 am to noon , Saturday, February 19 at SOREC. Bring gloves and 
pruning tools. Admission is $5. Call 776-7371 for more information.

The Jacksonville Garden Club will present "Companion Planting; by Mira 
Wingfield and "The Oregon garden" by Betty Stanaland at 12:30 pm Thursday, February 
17 at Royal mobile Estates, 1055 n. Fifth Street in Jacksonville. Admission is 
free. Call 858-8090 for more information.

On Monday, February 21 Medford Rose Society will present a rose gardening 
talk with Mike Cady of Jackson and Perkins at 7 pm at the church of Christ, 1885 
keen Way Drive in Medford. Call 608-6273 for more information.

Joan Jones/Staff Reporter
SouthernOregonNews LLC
www.MedfordNews.com
www.GrantspassNews.com
www.NewsAshland.com

Contact info: Joan Jones may be reached at joan@southernoregonnews.com.

______________________________________________________
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